KUCHING, Dec 7: The Land and Survey Department disclosed that as of today, no coal mining licences have been issued in the Sungai Tutoh, Baram area.
The Land and Survey Department made the clarification through a two-paragraph statement today, in response to an article titled “Ex-GPS Government Official Grabs A Coal Mining Licence He Denied To Native Landowners” which has been making the rounds among Sarawakians.
“Referring to the article titled ‘Ex-GPS Government Official Grabs A Coal Mining Licence He Denied To Native Landowners’ which is being circulated on social media regarding the issuance of coal licenses in the Sungai Tutoh Area, Baram Bahagian Miri.
“The Land and Survey Department hereby informs that to date no coal mining licences have been issued in the areas mentioned in the article,” said the statement.
On Dec 4, 2021, an online portal published a report alleging that a former Ministry of Resource Planning and Environment permanent secretary had rejecting the licence application by locals to manage the mine in 2017.
The report claimed that a licence was issued on April 14 this year to a company owned by the former permanent secretary. — DayakDaily
